Barringer-Simpson, Manzano are skipping WIC. Why is that ? Money ? Not a Major ?

What Simpson said was that her coach thinks it would interfere with her training for outdoors and that is her focus this year because of the Olympics.

Don't know about Manzano, but I bet it's the same thing.

I also assume that the money is not great enough to change anyone's mind.

Turkie is a disgusting country with a military dictatorship in power. Neighbors Israel, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Georgia, etc. are also run by crackpot racists.

New rule: don't come to a national championship if you don't plan on running at the world championship. It's unfair to those who legitimately want to run at the world championships who can't qualify. Even if they just move the 2nd and 3rd runners up one place, it still affects other runners who don't qualify for the finals if there are heats and it just makes the race different tactic wise than if the runner wasn't there in the first place.

Jenny's coach works at the US Air Force Academy along with hurdling legend Allen Johnson. Her coach can't travel to an unstable country without security guarantees.

Bill Maher wrote:

New rule: don't come to a national championship if you don't plan on running at the world championship...

Rules should be enforceable.

So does Rupp go in the 1,500?

Travel takes alot out of you. They probably accomplished what they needed to so now they can move on to the next task. Understandable but they should still go. Great opportunity.

Why go half-way across the world to get 20th place?

20th place? Simpson was 1st place at outdoor worlds, not 20th.

the goal is to run well at outdoors...an early march meet thousands of miles away doesn't fit into the schedule...makes sense to me. I llike that they ran at USA's anyway...gave the meet a little more credibility.

On the other hand, Shalane Flanagan said after the marathon OT's that her and Kara would likely race at the track OT's despite the fact that they wont be running any track races in London. That, I think, sucks and will kill some of the olympic trials magic in the womens distance events. Ironic because Flanagan cited that magic as the reason she wanted to compete

Not majors: WIC, WXC, PanAm, W1/2.

But hells bells, you make the team you get to travel a bit for free.